Common Questions
Choosing the right therapist
“How do I choose the right therapist for me?” Experience and research both have shown that one of the most important aspects of therapy is the therapeutic relationship. In other words, your personal experience matters. So, it’s important to consider both the qualifications of the therapist to address the concerns and goals you have, as well as your overall sense of ‘comfort’ with the therapist. With that in mind, I recommend that, when choosing the right therapist for you, take the time to speak with a few different therapists that you are considering to get an overall sense of if it is a good fit.
Usefulness of talking to a therapist
“How is talking to a therapist helpful?” (Here’s a video about the usefulness about talking to a therapist). In general, having the space to express our experiences can be very helpful for externalizing ideas, having the opportunity to look at them from different angles, getting clarity on some aspects and arriving to a resolution with concerns that may be brewing around. And, it’s helpful to know that there can be many enriching ways to achieve these benefits outside of therapy, such as journaling, artistic expression or talking to a friend, to name a few. Several main “added/unique” value from talking to a therapist include the skills and knowledge that a therapist brings to the table. One of these aspects is the therapist’s skill and training in Active Listening, which involves holding a particular quality of presence and acuteness of listening that allows the client to discover personal meanings, connections and resolutions. Another is the years of training and knowledge that therapists have acquired and bring to the therapy session in the realm of understanding of human behavior, mechanisms that influence the human experience and methods for treating specific psychological challenges. Then there’s the added specializations that some therapists have that enhance the “talk therapy” experience and effectiveness. Research tells us that certain ailments, such as those related to trauma, require more than standard, conventional, talk therapy to be resolved. So, finding a therapist that integrates “talk therapy” with the current advances in therapy approaches can be more impactful for achieving your therapy goals.
What to expect
“What should I expect from therapy?” My approach is largely client-centered. That term can mean many things. For me, I see psychotherapy as a process that provides the conditions and tools that support each person towards achieving their own unique goals. And through the years, the key elements that I’ve found supportive of my client’s process include providing them with A) a contained, accepting, non-judgmental space to explore ideas, perceptions, beliefs, feelings and sensations; B) information to understand different cognitive, emotional, and psychophysiological mechanisms that are influencing their experiences in life; C) tools to enhance the skills for navigating through life and increasing their overall capacity and zone of resilience; D) a safe attuned tempo that meets them where they are and respects the intelligence of their unique internal process. So when you choose to begin therapy, you can expect that I will value your experience about your life, and I will invite and promote a supportive, collaborative and compassionate therapeutic environment for you to go through your process.
Starting Therapy
“How does therapy begin? What do we do?” The first few sessions of therapy are used to identify some of the goals that bring you to therapy, get “intake” or history information and provide an opportunity to get a sense of the therapeutic environment and the beginning of a therapeutic relationship. Basically, we sit and talk, and “get to know each other”. In the first appointment, you come to my office, have a look around, and become familiar with the surrounding. I tell you more about my approach and the way I work, and you tell me about what you are hoping to get out of therapy. And together, we discuss what could be useful for you at this time and decide on a treatment plan to achieve those goals. You can ask questions at any time later on in the therapeutic process as well. Progress will be reviewed at different stages to make adjustments as needed in order to continue supporting you towards your goals.
Frequency, duration, stopping
“How frequently should I have my therapy sessions?” Frequency of sessions can vary. In general, for most effective results, it is recommended that sessions be held on a weekly basis, especially early on in treatment. When there is a need to increase the number of sessions per week, or reduce frequency, we will have a discussion about that. Additionally, frequency can be adjusted as recommended to meet your goals. You can bring up the question of frequency at any time. And, when I have a suggestion or concern about frequency, I will discuss that with you as well so that, together, we can make whatever adjustments that could be beneficial to you.
“How long does therapy take?” While there are different therapy methods that have structure protocols and lengths, the duration of therapy is impacted by several variables including 1) the goals for therapy, 2) the “complexity” (i.e. history and interconnecting variables) of the challenges being addressed, 3) the supporting resources available, and so on. For instance, for someone who generally has been feeling well overall, and suddenly there’s a single incident or challenge that has become an issue, likely the therapy will be more short term. For someone who has been struggling with challenges in different areas of life, or for a longer time, then the course of therapy could be more medium to longer term. Duration can be explored by identifying short term and long term goals. As progress is made, these goals can be reviewed to determine if they are relevant at this time, or if the progress made is satisfying to take a break or end therapy.
“What if I want to take a break or end therapy?” Therapy is a personal process. So, you can stop or take a break at any time. My recommendation is that we discuss plans for stopping or taking a break together so that it is done in a way that best supports the progress and achievements you’ve made so far. Additionally, from my end, I will initiate this discussion as well if I believe we are at a point where taking a break or ending therapy should be considered. This is a process where it is really important that I hear your thoughts and perspective about where you feel you are with this therapeutic journey and how you feel about completing things at this time.
Office Hours
“What are your office hours?” Office hours are subject to change. Contact me for current information on office hours.
Services
– Standard Session
– Extended Session
50 minutes
80 minutes
Payment methods
For sessions at the clinic, payment can be completed by cash or credit card.
For E-Therapy sessions, payment can be completed via bank transfer or ATM deposit. An email with the necessary details will be sent to you for payments for a session.
Please note that all bank charges are on the client.
Appointment policy
Complimentary Phone Consultation: A complimentary 15 minutes phone/zoom consultation may be offered for first time bookings. Please note that there are times when, due to schedule capacity, the complimentary phone consultation is not available.
Cancellation Policy: The cancellation/rescheduling policy is for a 24 hours advanced notice. Cancellation/rescheduling without proper notice (aka “Late Notice”) will incur the full fee of the appointment. Please note that 1 minute after the time is considered Late Notice. For example, if you’re appointment is at 4PM, and you request to cancel or reschedule at 4:01PM the previous day, this is considered Late Notice and will be subject to the full fee.
Payment Policy: Payment is due at the end of each session. If the session is had at the office, then payment can be made before leaving the center. If the session is online, then payment can be made via bank transfer or ATM deposit and is due within 24 hours of completing the session.
making an appointment
At this time, there are a two easy ways to request an appointment including the quick contact form and sending an email.
emails, whatsapp & Other
“Do you use WhatsApp or other social media platforms?” Privacy, confidentiality and containment are important components of the therapeutic process. Since WhatsApp is not a secure application, I do not offer WhatsApp or other social media communication with my clients.
“Can I email you?” Due to internet security concerns, at this time, I ONLY use emails and ask that clients ONLY use emails for logistics such as scheduling appointments, canceling appointments, requesting address details, availability, etc.
Exchange of information via email: Please note that, when it comes to exchanging any information via email, whether as part of informed consent for E-Therapy, or for communication related to in-office sessions, there is always increased risk of breach of confidentiality. As such, choosing to exchange any information via emails means your are choosing to accept these risks and are releasing the therapist and center from any liability should there be an unintentional breach of confidentiality.
psychiatrists/psychologists/psychotherapists/counselors
“What is the difference between psychiatrists, psychologists, and psychotherapists?” (You can also watch a video with a quick explanation about this difference).
Psychiatrist: The term psychiatrist is largely a globally recognized term. Psychiatrists are a medical doctors. Generally speaking, they prescribe medication to reduce symptoms. While medication reduces symptoms through biochemistry impact on the brain, psychotherapy reduces symptoms by processing through experiences as well as providing skills and tools to increase a person’s capacity for regulation and overall resilience. Sometimes, working collaboratively with both a psychiatrist and psychotherapist can be very effective. Other times, medication is not necessary for treatment.
Psychologist: Unfortunately, there isn’t a globally unified definition for the terms Psychologist, Psychotherapist and Counselor. In the US, for instance, a Psychologist is someone who has a PhD in Clinical Psychology and a license to practice from the American Psychology Association. Also, psychologists are trained in completing in-depth psychological assessments and testing as well as research. On the other hand, here in Dubai, a Psychologist is someone who has either an MA or a PhD in Clinical Psychology and is licensed either by the DHCC, CDA or DHA.
Counselor: In the US and the UK, the term counselor is generally reserved for people who have a certification in counseling. Generally, such counselors would focus on short-term concerns rather than more in-depth or complex treatment. Here in Dubai, the term counselor is used for psychotherapists with an MA or PhD in counseling psychotherapy. So, my licenses, for instance, have different titles. Here in Dubai, through DHCC at first, and now through DHA, my I am licensed as Allied Health – Counselor. However, my license in the US is Marriage and Family Therapist or MFT. In the US, this means that I have a master’s degree (or PhD) in Counseling Psychology and I have completed the hours of training requirements and passed the board exams to be a licensed psychotherapist who is qualified to treat children, adults, individuals, couples, families and groups – depending on my area of focus. I have chosen to focus on individual adults.
Psychotherapist: The term psychotherapist is no longer used in licensing. However, I find that its definition is very simple and inclusive. Psychotherapy is the treatment of mental health challenges and disorders through psychological means rather than medication means. So, as a professional, I use the terms counseling, psychotherapy and therapy interchangeably throughout this website and in my practice.
If you want more information on the difference between psychiatrists, psychologists, psychotherapists and counselors, here’s an article posted by WebMd.